This trailer is an interactive look at XCOM: Enemy Unknown allowing the chance to take command of a squad and see how your command decisions impact the outcome of a battle in the upcoming reimagining of the X-COM series. Word is: "This interactive demo illustrates the important choices you will make in XCOM: Enemy Unknown. In the actual game, you will control your XCOM operatives directly."

Dades wrote on Sep 30, 2012, 10:53:They probably should have chosen a better gameplay portion to show off to potential owners then, the demo was very underwhelming. You always want a hook, you don't want people unimpressed.

Yep I agree, it is almost necessary to watch some gameplay videos of the game to see how the game plays because the demo was so limited.

Prez wrote on Sep 30, 2012, 23:17:Understanding the technological hurdles, I still am very sad that there's no random map generation. Hopefully the maps that are there are fully destructible as in the original.

Dades wrote on Sep 30, 2012, 10:53:They probably should have chosen a better gameplay portion to show off to potential owners then, the demo was very underwhelming. You always want a hook, you don't want people unimpressed.

Yep, they definitely screwed up with making the demo so short. For those wanting to see more of the game in action, they did a 1+ hour live gameplay session, available here: http://youtu.be/1VP4YmExQAE

SpectralMeat wrote on Sep 30, 2012, 10:20:To be honest the demo is like the very first level of the game, more like a tutorial then anything else. It may not be your cup of tea but I wouldn't judge a full game based on 1 level in a demo.Just my 2 cents

They probably should have chosen a better gameplay portion to show off to potential owners then, the demo was very underwhelming. You always want a hook, you don't want people unimpressed.

Chromius wrote on Sep 30, 2012, 09:04:I was excited about this when I saw the initial gameplay trailer, but after playing the Demo I found that like most games coming out these days, it has very nice graphics wrapped around an over simplified Xcom.

I honestly would prefer an updated UFO game that has some depth vs this, it is not an improved Xcom...........

RPS had a great post about the demo, the short version is that the demo, specifically, is bad because of how limited it is.

Chromius wrote on Sep 30, 2012, 09:04:I was excited about this when I saw the initial gameplay trailer, but after playing the Demo I found that like most games coming out these days, it has very nice graphics wrapped around an over simplified Xcom.

I honestly would prefer an updated UFO game that has some depth vs this, it is not an improved Xcom...........

To be honest the demo is like the very first level of the game, more like a tutorial then anything else. It may not be your cup of tea but I wouldn't judge a full game based on 1 level in a demo.Just my 2 cents

I was excited about this when I saw the initial gameplay trailer, but after playing the Demo I found that like most games coming out these days, it has very nice graphics wrapped around an over simplified Xcom.

I honestly would prefer an updated UFO game that has some depth vs this, it is not an improved Xcom...........

I'm really interested in this game but I'll hang fire and get some opinions and watch a gameplay video or two. I think like Civ 5 the streamlining will be a bit polarising and it might take a bit of a leap to embrace the new changes. Things like abilities instead of inventory are quite offputting so I'll wait and see.

What I would say is that the video that I watched a while back made it look like the 2 player deathmatch was interesting. Select some units and abilities from your faction then fight it out over a single encounter map. The action and tactics looked good at first glance.

Overon wrote on Sep 29, 2012, 14:38:The demo should give you a better indication of the kinds of gameplay you have. There should be more base building ie the strategic side and less emphasis on the tactical side. This is a both a strategic and tactical game. There is the small picture as well as the big picture to the gameplay. But as someone in the comments on youtube said "Shut up and take my money." Agreed.

Yeah I think I'll be waiting for the 'other' demo. There's no way I'm d/l'ing 5gbs for 20mins of gameplay. Plus from the feedback I hear it barely shows you anything. There's also the part where no game bearing the X-COM name since the first 2 were any good and I played those to death. It will take more than a reskin to coax money out of me. Not suggesting that's what this is, but the industry has taught me to not trust them.

Cutter wrote on Sep 29, 2012, 16:25:Well, I loved the demo and the RPS hands-on preview sold me, but then again I was really effing stoked for Brink and all the previews were pretty glowing too and we see how that turned out.

I'll be perfectly honest, I trust ARS about as far as I could throw them. About the time they decided to become whiners, and complain about ad blocking while refusing to do anything about malware laced ads was the last nail in the coffin for them in my book. Anything before that was just a slow march to the glue factory.

--"For every human problem, there is a neat, simple solution; and it is always wrong." --H.L. Mencken

My major concern is that in the latest Ars preview they state the game is maybe about 16 hours long and really doesn't seem to have any replay value. So no random maps, editor, etc. is making me go 'Hrmm' now. I think I may hold off for a little bit after launch for some more feedback.

@Cutter don't believe that dumbass. He even claims no replay value? He is no X-Com fan. Shit he must not have played the version he had for very long either. Otherwise he would have noticed all the C & C (choice & consequences) built into the game. I read the review and knew right away the guy was fucked in the head or full of shit.

Per Firaxis there are over 80 maps... though not randomly generated maps they have randomness built into them... random spawn points and random alien mix. Randomness built into the way the game unfolds. You'll see thirty something maps any play thru because of the different choices you've made. Fifteen hours was the low number on a play thru though I am assuming that is after you have played thru a time or two and learn a lot of the tech tree choices in advance. See my edit below for a link to the video interview/play thru.

I am sold and may also pre-purchase the Steam version now that Civ V is a sure thing. I want this game to sell well enough that they do an add-on or two. And hopefully another full release.

edit: And here is the question and answer... jump to 43:30 of The Giant Bomb video. Hell, watch the entire thing if you haven't yet.

Cutter wrote on Sep 29, 2012, 15:08:My major concern is that in the lastest Ars preview they state the game is maybe about 16 hours long and really doesn't seem to have any replay value. So no random maps, editor, etc. is making me go 'Hrmm' now. I think I may hold off for a little bit after launch for some more feedback.

The Ars preview also complains that there's no "undo" button. So I don't really trust it.

Cutter wrote on Sep 29, 2012, 15:08:My major concern is that in the lastest Ars preview they state the game is maybe about 16 hours long and really doesn't seem to have any replay value. So no random maps, editor, etc. is making me go 'Hrmm' now. I think I may hold off for a little bit after launch for some more feedback.

I stopped relying on the Ars gaming reviews when Ben Kuchera left. He started the PA Report, I'd suggest his write-upsinstead.

He is terrible! Wrong-headed about so many things. The PA:R just gives me a headache every time.

Well, I loved the demo and the RPS hands-on preview sold me, but then again I was really effing stoked for Brink and all the previews were pretty glowing too and we see how that turned out. I'll most likely cave and buy it anyway but I'd like to see some actual player reviews on the full game before I do. One way or the other I'll grab it for certain, it's just a question of if at full price or on sale later on.

"There are two kinds of people in this world; people who love delis, and people you shouldn’t associate with.” - Damon Runyan

Cutter wrote on Sep 29, 2012, 15:08:My major concern is that in the lastest Ars preview they state the game is maybe about 16 hours long and really doesn't seem to have any replay value. So no random maps, editor, etc. is making me go 'Hrmm' now. I think I may hold off for a little bit after launch for some more feedback.

That 16 hour / no replay value remarks seems to contradict every other reviews i've read. The kotaku review is 40 hours in, and he doesnt seem near finishing his game. I'm betting that that Ars article is rubish journalism.